python not using light..

Ok so my python just uses one side of the tank all day and most of the night. He burrows under his water container which is the cool side of the tank. He does not even use the light that is sitting there beating its heart out for 8 hours a day. What is the point of even turning it on if he is not using it. He just started this about 2-3 weeks ago which was approximately when he stopped eating also. So I have kind of come to the point where i think that him not eating has something to do with him only using one side of the tank. But i dont know im baffled and want to solve this problem. He use to burrow under his log (the warm side) and under the water container using them both equally.

Can you post any pics of your setup so we can see it an maybee tell you whats going on

Sounds like husbandry issues. How are you measureing the temps? Hows the humidity with the big light?

Also BP's are nocturnal so he probably doesn't like the light.

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Originally Posted by Brimstone111888

Sounds like husbandry issues. How are you measureing the temps? Hows the humidity with the big light?

Also BP's are nocturnal so he probably doesn't like the light.

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so your saying dont use a light? Ill get some pics up tonight...

The only thing that light does is suck the humidity out of the enclosure. Natural light in the room is sufficient to give them day/night cycles.

A UTH is preferred for providing heat.

I don't use lights on any of mine.

And no - ball pythons do not require supplemental lighting, they are nocturnal and spend the daylight hours in dark burrows and termite mounds.

uth is that a heating pad?

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Originally Posted by bjfoste1

uth is that a heating pad?

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Yea Under Tank Heater :gj:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Yea Under Tank Heater :gj:

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right on i think ill switch to UTH then. You have to use a thermostat with that though huh. My clamp lamp i can adjust the temps by just moving it closer or further away...just by eyeballing it through out the day.

But for now here is these pics of my current tank. There just from a camera phone so there not the best ...i know.

**broken links removed by dr del**

ok why did that not work
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ro22/tank1.jpg

hey i cant see one from your pic but u shoulld put a little hide in there for him on warm side ... he will love it unless u already have one

god here is the rest my bad i just learned how to post pics
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ro22/tank2.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ro22/tank1.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ro22/tank3.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ro22/tank4.jpg

You really need to invest in a digital thermometer/hygrometer too. Your thermometers are mounted too high, they aren't measuring ground temps where your snake is, and the dials are notorious for being inaccurate.

What do you use for heat at night?

Also, maybe it is too dry under the heat lamp/light or too hot and he is going where it's cooler. It could be a ton of things... but both of those are my best guesses.

Yes, get two digital thermometer / hydrogometers - one for each side of the tank. Cool side s/b 80 degrees, and hot side 90. Humidity is very important, too, at about 50-60% and more during shed.

I hope this helps. Let us know if you have any other questions.

Where can i get these digital thermometers at? I think i looked before and could not find them.

Hi,

Well most people I have seen on here suggest wallmart - they can get the accurites that most recomend.

You should also be able to buy them online in several places such as ebay etc.

I believe rich has some thermometers but not the specific accurite I have seen praised and his also seems slightly more expensive.


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bjfoste1

god here is the rest my bad i just learned how to post pics
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ro22/tank3.jpg

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That is probably why he isn't eating correctly. Your husbandry is completely out of wack.

Ditch the light. BP's don't need it and as you can see they don't want it either.

Get an UTH with some sort of control on it. Uncontrolled UTH"s have been known to get 120+.

Get rid of the half log hide. They provide almost nothing for security for a BP, especially since it is up against the glass. Also since glass is usually cool, most BP's don't like lying against cold glass.

Downsize that huge bowl. That thing is big enough to fit an adult BP. I use a ceramic dog dish. Easy to clean and they are heavy so they don't get knocked.

Get two identical hides. One for cool side and one for warm. I use:

http://www.seapets.co.uk/gallery/669261-large.jpg

You can use whatever as long as it is cave-like.

Get some way to accurately monitor the humidity and temps. A thermometer with a probe is best, so you can measure the belly heat in the warm side hide.

Also if you find you are having humidity problems, you are going to have to do the duct tape trick.

brimstone you use two identical hides on each side? where would the water bowl go? and where can i find a uth with some kind of control...thanks the help!

Identical hides can be as inexpensive as $.25 each. Go to Dollar Tree and get a set of four cereal bowls and solder out an entrance like these:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...Tub/Setup2.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...aEnclosure.jpg

The digital thermometer/hygrometer can be found in most Walmarts in their hardware section (just ask them where their indoor/outdoor thermometers are). This one is $12, measures two temps - I put it on the cool side, and run the probe to the inside of the warm hide - and humidity.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...mageloader.gif

Acurite is just one brand, but any indoor/outdoor digital thermometer will do. If it only measures one temp, you'll need two.

Pick up some velcro too, I velcro mine to the inside of the enclosure at ground level.